PREPS PLUS.

Stevenson shows it has enough all-around talent

May 11, 2003|By Ken O'Brien. Special to the Tribune.

With two key all-arounders missing, Stevenson still had enough Saturday night to earn a chance to defend its state gymnastics championship.

David Ledvora and Geoffrey Reins skipped the Stevenson sectional competition at their school to compete in a national club meet in Georgia this weekend. With those all-arounders, the Patriots had posted a 163.45 last month.

At the sectional, the Patriots got outstanding performances from Patrick McCall and Robert Solomon to win with a 156.65. Stevenson earns an automatic spot in the team competition, to be held Friday at Schaumburg.

McCall won the all-around and Solomon finished second. But the Patriots and their coach, Dexter Victoria, stressed that they were concerned about whether the absence of Ledvora and Reins would cost them a chance to win another title.

"I was probably more worried than the guys," Victoria said.

"We just tried to do our best to get to state," McCall said. "We had the backup that we needed with the efforts of Dan Dybus and Nick Cupani and [brothers] Jason and Josh Smith."

Both Ledvora and Reins can compete for the team at the state championships, but neither is eligible for individual titles.

Glenbrook South finished second with a 153.05 score, and Prospect was third at 145.55. Glenbrook South narrowly missed grabbing one of the three at-large spots for the team competition.

"I feel sorry for the kids," said Titans coach Tom Neville, who is retiring after 20 seasons as a Glenbrook South gymnastics coach. "They worked extremely hard and gave all they had, but it wasn't to be."

Glenbard West, with a 153.15, got the last at-large spot. Elk Grove, with a 154.55, and Glenbrook North, earning its first-ever state meet appearance with a 154.2, also qualified as at-large teams.

The other teams that advance to the state meet by winning a sectional are: Addison Trail at 154.9, Hinsdale Central at 156.35, Lyons Township at 156.8 and Mundelein at 158.

Lyons won its own sectional Saturday, Lincoln-Way finished second with a 150.8. The Lions finished third last year.

"We want a trophy, but deep down we want to win," said junior Jason Enke, who won the all-around and four events.

The Lions also survived an injury to their other top all-arounder, Brad Trompeter, who hurt his knee in March. After returning last weekend, he won still rings at their sectional.